Rigging the Reefing setup on a MacGregor 25

[mabromwich]

Hi,

I pretty much found an abandonded MacGregor in the woods and am fixing it up. There are a lot of parts missing or not set up correctly as far as I can tell.

Inside the mast is a balance block. Inside at the clew there is a single block and at the tack two blocks inside the mast. There is line all throughout this setup but it doesnt seem long enough and none of it really moves well.

I am having trouble determining how to rig it and through which holes the control end goes. There is a horn cleat on the deck by the mast which could be used and one on the end of the boom which could be used.

There are reefing crinckles? in the sail for 2 reef points but I certainly cant see how to set it up for two reef lines.

Any suggestions? Happy to share pictures if there is no easy resource. I already checked youtube and google but cant find anything this old.

Thanks a lot.

[Stickinthemud57]

First of all, congratulations on the "free" boat. In quotes because there is, in fact, no such thing.

It's entirely possible I am being dense, but there are some things in your description that only make sense if you are referring to the boom rather than the mast.

When you say "inside at the clew" it makes me think you can't be talking about the mast (the upright spar located roughly 2/3rds of the way forward, which the luff of the sail runs up) as the clew is located at the opposite end of the boom.

Unless I am mistaken, you are talking about blocks and other ropes and hardware inside the boom, perhaps similar to the attached diagram, either as part of an in-boom reefing or outhaul mechanism. I'm not familiar with any such mechanisms inside the mast.

I would be surprised if either were a stock arrangement, as MacGregors tend to come without such refinements.

Photos would indeed be helpful.

P.S. "Cringles"

[Russ]

Congrats on the find. There will no doubt be legal challenges to title it. I'm not familiar with laws up there, but some states down here can be a real PITA to register an abandoned boat.

YES, pictures would help much. Your description is hard to visualize and yes, sounds like you are talking about the boom not the mast.

We have a resources page here where you can download the manual for your boat as well as other good information
https://www.macgregorsailors.com/resources.html

Welcome to the forum. You came to the right place as there is 20 years of knowledge here. Your Mac 25 has fewer members here, but I'm sure if you ask you will find someone who can point you in the right direction.

Post some pictures (button on the bottom of the posting window "Add image to post" will allow you to post photos. We love seeing transformation of an abandoned boat to restored.

[Piddle and Futz]

Sounds like a fantastic project.

If you can't tell already, there is a small crowd of Mac nerds gathering, eager to offer help, advice, and perhaps a small amount of friendly heckling.

[SteveH]

We are currently enjoying our Mac25. Reefing the 25 (stock 1983) you rotate the boom wrapping the main sail around it. At the gooseneck where the boom attaches to the mast there is a thumb screw that threads into the luff groove. You loosen this screw which allows the boom to turn.
We have not reefed our 25. When the wind kicks up too much for us. We simply drop sails and go below